In India, 60% of elders testify to facing abuse, while 80% do not report it. Wishes and Blessings is doing its part to help those who have been abused, neglected and abandoned by their kith and kin. Find out how from this excerpt from an interview with Dr Geetanjali Chopra, Founder and President, Wishes and Blessings.
Why is there the need for an old age home like Mann Ka Tilak?
In the course of the projects we run, we came across many elders who had been abused and neglected by their own families. We conducted a number of surveys and case studies and found that there were not even a handful of homes promising to provide facilities and amenities free of cost to its residents. According to conservative estimates, there is a requirement of over 15,000 old age homes out of which only 750 homes presently exist. Most abandoned elderly do not even have resources to pay for a basic hygienic old age shelter, and can only dream of staying in a home that can provide care, recreational activities, medical care and general amenities.
In order to fill this gap between the required and actual numbers of old age homes in our country, and with a motive to provide the elderly and neglected people the love and dignity they deserve, we set up the first Wishes and Blessings old age home- Mann ka Tilak.
We inaugurated the old age home on 25th April 2018 to reach out to abused and abandoned elderly women in Delhi/NCR. In the span of one year, we were able to reach out to more than 20 such women who were living in inhumane and desolate conditions. Some were successfully reunited with their families, while others continue to stay at Mann ka Tilak to live happy and fulfilling lives. On occasion of its first anniversary, on 25th April 2019, Mann ka Tilak opened its gates to abandoned and abused elderly men.
What was the vision behind setting up the old age home?
Our elders brought us up, helped us learn and grow, cared for us and loved us. And unfortunately many are cruelly abandoned at a time when they need our help. Very often they are left stranded with no means to survive, and their tears and cries for help, for love, often get lost in the noise of everyday life. Mann ka Tilak becomes a home and a sanctuary for these abandoned elders. The vision for starting our pilot project, Mann ka Tilak, was to create a happy place exclusively for old and abandoned women, with no financial or social support, to enable them to live as valued members of society and receive the love, dignity and respect they deserve.
How do you ensure that these abandoned elders live a sheltered life?
We launched Mann ka Tilak with the idea that our elders would live their last few stages of life in a comfortable manner with utmost dignity and respect. As part of this promise, all facilities are provided completely free of cost to all residents.
The women and men are provided with all things necessary for a comfortable and healthy life- from clothes, shoes, toiletries to medical care. The residents eat hot and nutritious breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner and regular special meals are sponsored by generous patrons. With age, health becomes a major concern… we ensure that our residents are in the pink of health through regular check ups.
The residents often come from desolate conditions of abuse and neglect, and they find the space to heal and a new family who loves and cares for them right here, at Mann ka Tilak.
They form unique bonds with the Wishes and Blessings team and become ammas and uncles to all of us.
Our residents come from a variety of communal and religious backgrounds and yet live together as one happy family. All festivals are celebrated as well as the birthdays of each and every resident. Donors regularly visit the old age home and spend time with our ammas and uncles, exchanging stories over evening tea. The residents love learning new skills through recreational and art workshops that are held regularly.
Tell us about some of the residents. Is there one amma/ uncle that holds a special place in your heart?
Our residents come from a variety of backgrounds. Some have chosen to come here, others have had to come here because of various reasons. Most of our ammas have faced atrocious forms of abuse- financial, verbal, emotional and even physical. Each story is heartbreaking in itself, but at Mann ka Tilak, they are able to leave their painful pasts behind and form new, happy memories. With a loving home to call their own, their tears are soon transformed into everlasting smiles.
While all of the residents are equally dear to me, Rukmanni amma is perhaps a little more special. She is the first resident of Mann ka Tilak. I still remember the day she walked through the gates, sobbing her heart out as her son left her there. Her pleas filled the air… I don’t think there was a single dry eye in the shelter home. Rukmanni amma has spent more than a year now at Mann ka Tilak, and I can assuredly say that she is extremely happy here. In fact, just the other day she remarked to me, “I have never had anaar (pomegranate) before. This is the life. To sit comfortably and eat fruit to my heart’s content.”
What is the long term vision?
Mann ka Tilak is the first of a chain of old age homes to be set up across India. As with Mann ka Tilak, all facilities will be provided completely free of cost. This vision aligns with our overall goal to spread happiness. We want our elders to age with grace and respect, to live their last few stages of life as valued citizens of our country.
What are your sources of funding?
The old age home is one of the most extensive and expensive projects that we run. All expenses of Mann ka Tilak are paid for by Wishes and Blessings. This includes rent, electricity, water, ration and other necessary items. One of the largest sources of funding was the ADHM 2017. Funds raised through this platform went towards the construction of Mann ka Tilak. Funds raised through our participation in ADHM 2018 were used for the running cost as well as for further constructions for the men’s wing.
We are now looking forward to running in ADHM 2019. Wishes and Blessings is raising funds to make Mann ka Tilak sustainable and for further infrastructural developments to reach out to more aged and neglected men and women looking for a loving and caring home.
How can people get involved?
There are so many options available to those who want to participate in the ADHM. You can join the Wishes and Blessings team and run the marathon! We participate as a group and make sure to finish the race. Running together is a great bonding activity and fosters team spirit.
We also encourage organizations to run with us, as part of their CSR. In this way, they are able to fulfil CSR requirements, build team spirit amongst employees and also encourage their employees to be healthy!
You could also start fundraising for us- just follow the instructions on the ICFN website, set up your page and raise funds. You could also donate directly to our fundraising pages– All team members are running for a cause close to their heart… help us reach our goal! We work with complete transparency, so you can be assured that all the money will be used for our elders. Join us in our efforts and #BhaagoMannSe
